Virginia Names Eight to All-ACC Academic Team
June 27, 2018
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- Eight Virginia track and field student-athletes were recognized on the All-ACC Outdoor Track and Field Academic team on Wednesday (June 27).
Graduate student Mike Marsella (Hope Valley, R.I.) and juniors Hilmar Jonsson (Reykjavik, Iceland) and Nace Plesko (Ljubljana, Slovenia) were named to the men’s team, while senior Holly Sullivan (Chester Springs, Pa.), redshirt junior Bridget Guy (Greensburg, Pa.) and juniors Carly Feyerabend (Mechanicsville, Va.), Ciara Leonard (Elkins Park, Pa.) and Kelly McKee (Lenexa, Kan.) represented the Cavaliers on the women’s team.
Competing in his first NCAA outdoor championship, Marsella advanced to the finals of the 1500m run after advancing from the semifinals with a time of 3:48.01. Marsella placed 10th in the finals, earning second-team All-America honors. Additionally, he was an All-ACC second-team honoree with a fifth-place finish at the conference championships in the 1500m. The honor was the second for Marsella, who was named to the 2018 Indoor All-ACC Academic Team.
Jonsson was named a second-team All-American after finishing 11th in the hammer throw at the NCAA Championships. During the outdoor season, he recorded his third-consecutive ACC title in the event, throwing a mark of 71.60m (234’11”). His first-place finish earned him All-ACC honors. Additionally, Jonsson posted the fifth-best performance at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds in the hammer throw, earning his second qualification for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Jonsson captured his second All-ACC Academic honor.
Plesko qualified for two events at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds, competing in the shot put and discus. At the national qualifying meet, he finished 30th in the shot put and 35th in the discus. Plesko also earned All-ACC honors in both events. He placed fourth in the shot put with a career-best mark of 18.26m (59’11”), while finishing sixth in the discus with a throw of 54.57m (179’0″). Plesko recorded his second outdoor All-ACC Academic Team honor. He is a three-time All-ACC Academic honoree.
Sullivan concluded her UVA career with All-ACC honors in the heptathlon. The senior finished fourth with a score of 5,218, while capturing a career-best run in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.25 and a career-best height of 1.64m (5’4.5″) in the high jump. Earlier in the season, Sullivan recorded a career-best jump of 5.82m (19’1.25″) in the long jump and a throw of 34.76m (114’0″) in the javelin at the Virginia quad meet. The honor was the second All-ACC Academic nod for Sullivan.
Guy became the first female pole vaulter in Virginia history to advance to the NCAA Championships where she earned first-team All-America honors. Guy tied for fourth on the national stage, clearing a height of 4.30m (14’1.25″). During the season, she won the ACC championship in the pole vault and set a school record at the Virginia Challenge in the event. Guy’s career-best performance of 4.46m (14’7.5″) was the fourth-best height this season. Guy recorded her first All-ACC Academic honor.
Feyerabend earned All-ACC honors in the high jump, posting a sixth-place finish in the event at the ACC Outdoor Championships. The finish earned her second-team honors. Feyerabend posted a season-best jump of 1.68m (5’6″) at the Virginia Grand Prix to place second in the meet. The All-ACC Academic honor was the first for Feyerabend.
At the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds, Leonard advanced to the quarterfinals of the 100m hurdles, finishing 23rd overall. During the first round of the East Prelims, she set a school record in the event, running a time of 13.26. Leonard captured the fourth-best time at the conference championship in the 100m hurdles to earn second-team All-ACC honors. Leonard was named to the All-ACC Academic team for the first time of her career.
McKee advanced to the finals at the NCAA Championships, posting a ninth-place finish in the triple jump. She earned her first All-America honor with the performance. At the ACC Championships, McKee finished as the runner-up in the triple jump and earned All-ACC first-team honors in the event. She recorded a career-best performance of 13.25m (43’5.75″) at the conference meet and set a school record in the event. The All-ACC Academic honor was the third overall and second outdoor nod for McKee.
To be in consideration for the All-ACC Academic Team, student-athletes need a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career for undergraduate students. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
The complete 2018 All-ACC Outdoor Track and Field Academic Teams:
ACC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Torben Laidig, Virginia Tech
ACC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Paige Stoner, Syracuse
2018 All-ACC Academic Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Team
Nathaniel Gordon, Clemson, Gr.; Athletic Leadership
Jeremiah Green, Clemson, Gr.; Youth Development Leadership
Iyin Battle, Duke, Jr.; Political Science
Michael Marsack, Duke, So.; Evolutionary Anthropology
Rivers Ridout, Duke; Jr.; Psychology
Jacob Sobota, Duke, Fr.; Undeclared
Steven Solomon, Duke, Gr.; Masters of Management Studies
Matt Wisner, Duke, So.; Public Policy
Montel Nevers, Florida State, Sr.; Geography
Brandon Tirado, Florida State, Jr.; Information Technology
Avery Bartlett, Georgia Tech, Jr.; Computational Media
Daniel Pietsch, Georgia Tech, Sr.; Mechanical Engineering
Preston Smith, Georgia Tech, Sr.; Computer Engineering
Nahom Solomon, Georgia Tech, Sr.; Computer Engineering
Christian Buckley, Louisville, Jr.; Bioengineering
Joe Delgado, Louisville, Gr.; Master of Urban Planning
Marcus Jegede, Louisville, Sr.; Sport Administration
John Kolb, Louisville, So.; Physical Education
Gian Piero Ragonesi, Miami, Sr.; International Business Studies
Jared Martin, North Carolina, So.-r.; Interdisciplinary Studies
Kenny Selmon, North Carolina, Sr.; Business Administration
Josh Davis, NC State, Gr.; Masters of Business Administration
Elijah Moskowitz, NC State, Jr.; Human Biology
Shannon Patterson, NC State, Sr.; Business Administration
Grant Rivers, NC State, Sr.-r; Communication (Masters)
Matthew Birzer, Notre Dame, Jr.; Business Analytics
Jacob Dumford, Notre Dame, Gr.; Computer Science & Engineering
Logan Kusky, Notre Dame, So.; Computer Engineering
Yared Nuguse, Notre Dame, Fr.; Biochemistry
Grant Jones, Pitt; So-r; Rhetoric and Communications
Noah Affolder, Syracuse, Fr.; Health and Exercise Science
Iliass Aouani, Syracuse, Jr., Civil Engineering
Colin Bennie, Syracuse; Gr.; Public Administration
Philo Germano, Syracuse, Gr.; Sport Venue & Event Mgt.
Dominic Hockenbury, Syracuse, So.; Biology
Aidan Tooker, Syracuse, So.; Communication & Rhetorical Studies
Hilmar Jonsson, Virginia, Jr.; Women, Gender & Sexuality/English
Mike Marsella, Virginia, Gr.; Higher Education
Nace Plesko, Virginia, Jr., Computer Science
Greg Chiles, Virginia Tech, Sr.; Consumer Studies
Vincent Ciattei, Virginia Tech, Sr.; Engineering Science & Mechanics
Austin Kolko, Virginia Tech, Sr.; Economics
Torben Laidig, Virginia Tech, Sr., Biochemistry/Biology
Bashir Mosavel-Lo, Virginia Tech, Fr.; General Engineering
Matthew Reinhart, Virginia Tech, Jr.; Industrial Design
James Steck, Virginia Tech, Gr.; Curriculum & Instruction
Diego Zarate, Virginia Tech, Jr., Criminology & Psychology
Robert Heppenstall, Wake Forest, Jr.; Communication
Elijah Shalaway, Wake Forest, So.; English
2018 All-ACC Academic Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Team
Paige Duca, Boston College, Jr.; Operations Management
Grace Barnett, Clemson, Gr.; Youth Development Leadership
Logan Morris, Clemson, So.; Industrial Engineering
Torie Robinson, Clemson, So.; Sports Communication
Rebekah Smith, Clemson, Jr.; Psychology
Ebony Williams, Clemson, Jr.; Parks, Rec & Tourism Mgt.
Brittany Aveni, Duke, So., Evolutionary Anthropology
Madison Heath, Duke, Sr.; Psychology
MacKenzie Kerr, Duke, Jr.; Political Science
Jaida Lemmons, Duke, Jr.; English
India Lowe, Duke, Jr.; Psychology
Laura Marty, Duke, So.; Psychology
Maddy Price, Duke, Sr.; Sociology
Janae Caldwell, Florida State, So.; Hospitality
Shauna Helps, Florida State, Jr.; Exercise Physiology
Shanice Love, Florida State, So.; Accounting
Kayla Maczuga, Florida State, So.; Exercise Physiology
Lauri Paredes Meza, Florida State, Fr.-r; International Affairs
Hannah Welsh, Florida State, Gr.; Criminology (Masters)
Ieva Zarankaite, Florida State, Gr.; Sports Management (Masters)
Militsa Mircheva, Florida State, Jr.; Social Sciences
Hailey Gollnick, Georgia Tech, Sr.; Biology
Jeanine Williams, Georgia Tech, Jr.; Biochemistry
Bailey Davis, Louisville, Sr.; Bioengineering
Alexis Gibbons, Louisville, So.; Exercise Science
Holly Hankenson, Louisville, Sr.; Marketing
Emma Ison, Louisville, Fr.-r.; Biology
Gabriela Leon, Louisville, Fr.; Exercise Science
Dorcas Wasike, Louisville, So.; Nursing
Deborah Ajagbe, Miami, Fr.; Mechanical Engineering
Samantha Gonzalez, Miami, Jr.; Sports Administration
Kristina Knott, Miami, Sr.; Advertising
Anna Runia, Miami, Jr.; Graphic Design/Psychology
Emily Godwin, North Carolina, Sr.; Business Administration
McKinley McNeill, North Carolina, So.; Communication Studies
Gabrielle Cunningham, NC State, Jr.; Communication/Sport Management
Elly Henes, NC State, So.; Psychology
Erika Kemp, NC State, Sr.-r; Psychology/Spanish
Rachel DaDamio, Notre Dame, Jr.; Applied & Computational Math and Stats
Gabrielle Diederich, Notre Dame, Fr.; Undeclared
Jessica Harris, Notre Dame, Sr.; Theology, Public Service
Kelly Hart, Notre Dame, Jr.; Sociology
Annie Heffernan, Notre Dame, Jr.; Neuroscience & Behavior
Indi Jackson, Notre Dame, Gr.; Film, Television and Theater
Rachel Tanczos, Notre Dame, Fr.; Theology
Andin Fosam, Pitt, Sr.; Bio Sciences/History & Philosophy of Science
Kelly Hayes, Pitt, Sr. Natural Sciences
Carolyn Helenski, Pitt, So.; Communication Science
Taylor Middleton, Pitt, So.; Marketing
Aviana Goode, Syracuse, So.; Psychology
Paige Stoner, Syracuse, Jr.; Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Carly Feyerabend, Virginia, Jr.; English
Bridget Guy, Virginia, Jr.-r; French
Ciara Leonard, Virginia, Jr.; Psychology
Kelly McKee, Virginia, Jr.; Cognitive Science
Holly Sullivan, Virginia, Sr.; Speech Communication Disorders
Stefanie Aeschlimann, Virginia Tech, Fr.; University Studies
Laurie Barton, Virginia Tech, So.; Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise
Rachel Baxter, Virginia Tech, Fr.; University Studies
Sarah Edwards, Virginia Tech, So.; Interior Design
Sara Freix, Virginia Tech, So.; Biological Systems Engineering
Lisa Gunnarsson, Virginia Tech, Fr.; General Engineering
Lindsay Herra, Virginia Tech, Sr., Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise
Katie Kennedy, Virginia Tech, Sr., Public Relations
Emma Thor, Virginia Tech, So.; Industrial Systems Engineering
Jordan Banks, Wake Forest, Sr.; Communication
Alexandria Florent, Wake Forest, Jr.; Sociology
Samantha Halvorsen, Wake Forest, So.; English
Rachel Kern, Wake Forest, Fr.; Undeclared
Mimi Smith, Wake Forest, Jr.; Health & Exercise Science